It’s a final at PNC Park – the Nats have beaten the Pirates 8-7 in 10 innings. A lot to chew on after Oneil Cruz could have provided the game-winning run in the 9th, Konnor Griffin made his biggest defensive gaffe in a multi-hit performance, and more. The guys aren’t happy after this one.

Steve Palazzolo from the 33rd Team joined the show. The in-person visits have wrapped up for the Steelers as we sit one week away from the NFL Draft. Steve does not see Drew Allar as a future franchise QB even though this time last year it looked like he would. Steve doesn’t care for player comps during draft season. Steve likes Carson Beck over a group that includes Allar, Garrett Nussmeier and Cole Payton. He said Nussmeier is a QB that can be effective in a dome or nice weather, but probably not in the AFC North. Steve acknowledged the massive risk to Taylen Green, but he might be worth the swing if you trust your offensive coaches. Steve said Vega Ioane is one of the safest picks in the draft and will plug & play Week 1. How does Steve see Denzel Boston, who could be on the Steelers 1st round board? Steve doesn’t think it’s smart to sellout your draft to select Carnell Tate – he added that nobody in this draft is worth that.

KDKA TV’s Bob Pompeani joined the show. Poni has a bone to pick with Bob and KDKA TV right away due to their countdown of WPIAL players drafted into the NFL. Does Rob Gronkowski belong on a list like that? We poked for a few other names on or off the list. Terrelle Pryor was left off the list due to being selected in the supplemental draft. Pomp does get the feel that the Steelers will draft a QB next weekend. Bob is starting to get a little sense that it’s not a foregone conclusion Aaron Rodgers returns to Pittsburgh. Bob reacted to LIV golf close to shutting down operations.

Poni had a list – a list of 10 names the Steelers could write on their draft card next Thursday night, according to someone connected to the team. With this being the first draft sans Mike Tomlin, things may operate a little differently than years past. There are some scenarios that the Steelers could move up or down, so it may not even be the name that is definitively chosen at 21st overall. The list included names of guys we have talked about for months, a few we’ve talked about a little bit, and a few that would require the Steelers to trade up that we haven’t mentioned much at all in a realistic sense. Is Omar Khan bound for another big swing? Is it far fetched to think the Steelers will make the big splash and trade up for someone like Tate? It’s hard to go wrong with an Ohio State WR.

Steelers insider Ray Fittipaldo from the PG joined the show. We are one week away from the NFL Draft. Will the Steelers select a QB at some point next weekend? Ray thinks Carson Beck is the name they will call because the Steelers, and Mike McCarthy, have a type – they want a bigger bodied guy. Ray thinks there are 5-6 guys in consideration to be the Steelers pick next Thursday night. Ray pointed out that after the middle of the 1st round, things could get a little messy with the board. Is there a chance the Steelers trade back in the opening round to acquire more capital, even though they already have a dozen choices to make? Ray expects Mason Rudolph to be the odd-man-out if the team does select a QB in this draft. The guys don’t understand why there are links to so many corners in this group. Is Aaron Rodgers coming back, because it doesn’t seem like current Steelers are skeptical?

We finally know the time for Game 1 of Penguins-Flyers. It will be Saturday night at 8 pm. It’s been a magical season for the Pens. What happens if that comes to an end in the first round? The guys think it’s a failure of a season if that’s how things go down. Is that fair, given how surprising this whole campaign has been? There is a fear that the Flyers will go after Sidney Crosby, but that’s what we should expect.

PM Team FULL Show 4-15-26

Mike Florio from Pro Football Talk joined the show. Does the NFL need to investigate Mike Vrabel following the fallout from the Dianna Russini situation? Russini resigned from her position at The Athletic yesterday. Mike isn’t sure what the end result is going to be, but he added that it is clear that a lawyer wrote up Russini’s resignation letter. Mike isn’t sure if it matters on Vrabel’s end because he isn’t the journalist that is compromising his/her position. Mike isn’t sure the length of the rabbit hole here, but it makes you question her reporting on the Titans and/or Patriots from the time Vrabel was coaching those teams. The Steelers are doing a lot of homework on QBs going into the draft – should they choose one? Do Steelers players have any idea if Aaron Rodgers is showing up? The guys asked Mike about the logistics of the draft in a given city and how the league counts the number of people at the event. Mike doesn’t think it’s crazy that there is still hotel space because Pittsburgh is an accessible city for some surrounding NFL cities. Mike was sad to hear the passing of Phil Garner over the weekend, a Pirate from his childhood. What is the latest with the NFL referees heading into this season?

ALL ACCESS w/ Aditi – With Drew Allar coming in for a visit and the previous relationship Mike McCarthy has with the father of Garrett Nussemeier, are the Steelers going to draft a QB next weekend? Another pop for the idea of taking a QB every year or two until you find one. Aditi expects the Steelers to be extremely active moving up and down the board during the draft because it’s very difficult to make all 12 selections that they possess. Aditi likes the idea of the Steelers drafting Jordyn Tyson, but not to let Makai Lemon and his odd combine interviews keep you away. Is it at all plausible that Aaron Rodgers announces the Steelers 1st round pick next Thursday as a way of showing that he is back?

Penn State PxP voice Steve Jones joined the show. With the Steelers welcoming the likes of Drew Allar and Vega Ioane over the last 48 hours, Steve had better insight on these guys than anyone. Steve explained what went wrong with Allar last season and if the coaching staff deserves blame. Steve said Allar can make every throw that an NFL team would be looking for, but broke down some of the shortcomings in big moments. Steve said the Penn State fans always wanted more out of Allar because he had the prototypical QB size. What does Allar do well and what needs more work? Steve talked about the growing trend in football offenses and the lack of downfield passing. How does Allar compare to other QBs in this draft class? Steve gave us the skinny on how to pronounce Vega Ioane, since the Steelers may have him high on their board. Steve said Ioane hasn’t allowed a sack since 2023 and ‘took care of his yard.’ Steve said Ioane is the Quenton Nelson of the draft and regardless of position, he will be of value.

A very odd decision from Don Kelly last night that aided a Pirates loss to the Nationals. In a spot with the Pirates down 1 run and the bases loaded, Kelly chose to lift Brandon Lowe from the game in favor of Nick Yorke. Yorke proceeded to ground into a double play immediately. Lowe hit a home run earlier in the game, off a left-handed pitcher, but was taken out instead of facing one in that spot. To top it off, that spot in the order came up with 2 outs in the bottom of the 9th and Yorke popped out in foul ground with the tying and winning runs on-base. The guys thought the move was very similar to ones we would see from Derek Shelton in the past. Is there any defense to the decision? Mitch Keller didn’t have a good night, so we don’t want to leave him off the hook here.

Fans give takes on Don Kelly over-managing last night in a Buccos loss to the Nats.

More calls reacting to the odd decision made by Don Kelly last night. And the throw by Jake Mangum shouldn’t be forgotten.

The Penguins regular season is over and Elmer Soderblom netted his 5th goal in the finale – winning Donny the bet against Poni, paying him $750. Poni took the opportunity to push for other hosts to pay off their bets, as we have seen multiple occasions when the bets are made, forgotten about and never paid off.

Poni doesn’t like how the Penguins limped to the finish line. Also, leave it to the NHL to not have their schedule finish all on the same day like every other professional league is able to accomplish with ease. When will the Penguins-Flyers series begin?

Donny Football Debrief – Is anyone else noticing that people not planning on defending the draft have a weird sense of pride in letting everyone know about it?